9.8 What is the relationship between Better Access uptake and demand for ATAPS psychological services at a divisional level?

Page last updated: August 2010

Analyses then examined the relationship, within Divisions, between the uptake of Better Access and ATAPS. These focused on the period since the introduction of Better Access. Specifically, analyses were restricted to 2008 data, as this was considered these more likely to be representative of established service use patterns than earlier data. Figure 9.19 and figure 9.20 show the patterns of uptake of Better Access and ATAPS by Division of General Practice.

Table 9.15 shows the summary statistics for non–Better Access mental health MBS items for Divisions of General Practice in Australia, in 2008.

The relationship between uptake of ATAPS and Better Access was examined using negative binomial regression models. The first model used total persons using ATAPS in the Division as the dependent variable, and adjusted for the size of the population in each stratum of the dataset by incorporating the logarithm of the population size as an offset term. The main predictor was the rate of Better Access users (per 1,000) in the Division. The second model used total ATAPS sessions delivered in the Division as the dependent variable, and adjusted for the size of the population in each stratum of the dataset by incorporating the logarithm of the population size as an offset term. The main predictor was the rate of Better Access services used (per 1,000) in the Division.

Table 9.16 and table 9.17 present the results of the regression analyses. These show that Divisions with higher rates of persons using Better Access items have significantly lower rates of persons using ATAPS (table 9.15). A similar result was found for the relationship between Better Access items used and ATAPS sessions delivered (table 9.16).

Figure 9.19 Persons using Better Access and ATAPS, 2008 (rate per 1,000 population), by Division of General Practice

Text version of Figure 9.19

Figure 9.19 shows two graphs. The first graph shows persons using Better Access MBS items (rate per 1,000 population) for each of the Divisions of General Practice, in ascending order. The usage ranges steadily from approximately 12 persons per 1,000 population at the low end to approximately 76 persons per 1,000 population at the high end.

The second graph shows persons using ATAPS psychological services (rate per 1,000 population) for each of the Divisions, in the same order as the first graph.

Comparing the two graphs shows that Divisions with a higher rate of people using Better Access MBS items will tend to have a lower rate of people using ATAPS psychological services.

Figure 9.20 Total Better Access items used and ATAPS sessions delivered, 2008 (rate per 1,000 population), by Division of General Practice

Text version of Figure 9.20

Figure 9.20 shows two graphs. The first graph shows total Better Access services used (rate per 1,000 population) for each of the Divisions of General Practice, in ascending order. The usage ranges fairly steadily from approximately 24 services used per 1,000 population at the low end to approximately 400 services per 1,000 population at the high end.

The second graph shows total ATAPS psychological services used (rate per 1,000 population) for each of the Divisions, in the same order as the first graph.

Comparing the two graphs shows that Divisions with a higher rate of Better Access services usage will tend to have a lower rate of ATAPS psychological services usage.Top of page

Table 9.15 Summary statistics for ATAPS and Better Access uptake for Divisions of General Practice in Australia, 2008

Division level measures

Range

Mean

SD

Persons using ATAPS (per 1,000)

0.02-13.9

2.4

2.7

ATAPS sessions delivered (per 1,000)

0.11-49.6

9.7

9.9

Better Access users (per 1,000)

12.1-75.7

41.3

11.9

Better Access services used (per 1,000)

23.6-398.1

156.5

67.9

Data have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009.
SD, standard deviation.